'Excellent' crop development seen in Alta.

A combination of warm temperatures and timely precipitation has resulted in some excellent looking grain and oilseed crops in Alberta, according to a provincial crop specialist. "Rain over the past couple of days combined with the heat seen last week has helped with development and has improved yield potential for the various crops," said Harry[...]

Feeding Texas Longhorns? Canadian farmers cash in on U.S. drought

After spring floods drowned his seeding plans two years straight, Walter Finlay is harvesting what looks to be an average or slightly better crop of wheat and canola. "Average" will do just fine this year. The worst drought in a half century in the U.S. Midwest has scorched corn and soybean crops, igniting grain and[...]


CP's CEO quits ahead of reckoning

Prairie farmers can expect one of their two main railways to press harder for wider profit margins under a quick regime change announced Thursday. Canadian Pacific Railway's embattled CEO Fred Green announced his resignation Thursday morning, hours ahead of a shareholder vote in Calgary on nominations to the company's board, put forward by an activist[...]

Early Alta. seeding stalled by moisture

Recent precipitation across a large portion of Alberta will help improve moisture levels in the province, as seeding operations are set to get underway for the year. Some barley and spring wheat was already seeded in southern Alberta over the past week, before precipitation and colder temperatures halted that activity, said crop specialist Harry Brook[...]


Precipitation slows seeding in Alberta

Varying amounts of precipitation prevented producers in Alberta from getting on fields and actively preparing for spring seeding during the week ended May 2, according to a provincial crop specialist. "Some seeding in the province has been completed, however," said Harry Brook with the Alberta Ag-Info Centre at Stettler.In more southerly regions of Alberta, seeding[...]

Prairie seeding still a month away

Warm and dry weather conditions seen across Western Canada this winter may be leading to some talk of an earlier-than-normal start to spring seeding. However, crop specialists in the three Prairie provinces say weather over the next month will play a key role in determining when producers actually get out on their fields. The lack[...]


Alberta Liberals' ag critic crosses floor

Alberta's provincial Liberal caucus has lost its agriculture, rural development and municipal affairs critic to the governing Tories. Bridget Pastoor, the MLA for Lethbridge East since 2004, announced her decision Monday at an Edmonton press conference alongside Premier Alison Redford, who described Pastoor as a "dedicated and hard-working representative for her constituents." Pastoor, 71, had[...]

Ontario names new agriculture minister

A veteran Hamilton-area MPP and former cabinet minister is Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's choice for minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs in a cabinet short on ag experience. Ted McMeekin, the MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, was sworn in Thursday as ag minister following the Oct. 6 election, which saw McGuinty's Liberal government reduced just shy[...]


RCMP seek cattle auctioneer's alleged abductor

A suspect in what's alleged to be a botched abduction of prominent Alberta livestock auctioneer Blair Vold has been seen on candid cameras. RCMP at Ponoka, Alta., north of Red Deer, on Monday released new colour photos of a man allegedly trying to use Vold's bank card at a CIBC branch at nearby Wetaskiwin. The[...]

CropWatch: Armyworm counts near thresholds

Prairie canola growers should be scouting their fields "immediately" as populations of bertha armyworm are nearing economic thresholds to spray, the Canola Council of Canada warns in Grainews' CropWatch. Hot, dry weather has been "favourable" to the insect's numbers, the council said, noting some growers in Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan and the Peace region have already[...]